Disposable hypodermic syringe



Feb. 14, 1961 M. J. COHEN DrsPosABLE HYPODERMIC SYRINGE Filed Sept. 26,1958 AT TDR NEY United States Patenti() nrsPosABLE HYPODERMIC sYRlNGEMilton Joseph cohen, 5437 Connecticut Ave. NW.,

. Washington, D.C.

This invention relates to the administering to human ills and to theequipment employed in so doing, `and more particularly to facilitiesutilized in the combining and injection of certain substances into thehuman body for the treatment of certain symptoms and conditions.

The invention relates specically to hypodermic syringes by means ofwhich injections composed of a combination of iiuid and medicament areadministered in a manner that the substance injected Imay be readilyabsorbed in the blood stream.

a Injection into the blood stream has been done by means of solutionsprepared some at a substantially earlier `period and some at the time ofuse and by means of hypodermics including a barrel and a movableplunger, all of which have rfallen short of what has been desired in theWay of freshness, sterility, ease `of application, and cost, and therehas been t-he great possibility` of error with the usual plunger typesyringe in the hands of an inexperienced operator.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the difficulties enumeratedand produce an inexpensive disposable hypodermic syringe without amovable plunger but instead a syringe in which the medicament iscontained sterile under pressure, either by an inert gas unit employinga lgas such as helium or other pressure producing means by which thecontents of `the hypodermic syringe may readily be dispensed by the`operation ofa simple valve. p

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve containercontaining both medicamentV and` `pressure means for ejecting suchmedicament with such pressure means either in contact with themedicament containing solution or segregated therefrom and `withejection means being either pressed air or gas, compressed spring meansor both so that in the -use of the device all that is necessary is toinsert the needle of the hypodermic and open the valve to permit theejection caused by the pressure Without the application of externalforce and capable of being used in all positions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingwherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig.

Fig. 3, a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a modified form of the valve;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary longitudinal section of a moditied type ofcontainer; and

Fig. 6, a fragmentary longitudinal section through a further modifiedform.

Briefly stated, the hypodermic syringe of the present inventioncomprises a container or vial of glass, plastic or other substance andwhich container or vial serves as the barrel or cylinder of a syringe inwhich medicament and fluid in solution are introduced and to whichpressure is applied for discharging the solution into the tissue of thepatient. In addition to the barrel, the hypodermic syringe includes aneedle through which the solution can be injected, a connection betweenthe needle and the vial controlled by a valve, and injection mechanismby which the solution may be discharged by the application of the middleand forenger on the nger pieces and the thumb on the end of the barrel.The barrel containing pressure means in the form of a gas, or othermeans such as a cylinder of air, spring, or the like which causes thedischarge of the solution when the valve is opened and when the valve isclosed the discharge is stopped. Also, the invention may include in theconnection between the needle and the vial, a compressible member whichforms -an aspirator or pump for sucking blood into thedevice when theneedle is improperly inserted into the blood vessel. A cover may beprovided for protecting the needle.

With continued reference to the drawing, the hypodermic syringe of thepresent invention comprises a needle 10 mounted in a thickened tubularholder 11 provided with a reduced portion 12 on which a protective coveror cap 13 for the needle is frictionally received. The needle holder 11is fastened within a tube 14 of flexible material in the opposite end ofwhich is mounted an enlarged end 15 of a discharge tube 16, the remoteend of which is adapted to engage a valve body having a peripheralportion 18 adapted to engage a resilient washer or seat 19 to controlthe discharge of the solution of medicament and iluid from the interiorof the vial or container 20.

The liexible tube 14 is provided with a partition forming portion 21with a small axial slit or opening 22 therethrough so that bycompressing the tube it serves as an aspirator and creates a suctionthrough the needle to draw blood through the needle into the tubeprovided the needle has been improperly inserted and terminates in ablood vessel. In order to protect the tube 14 a relatively sti shield 23is provided having openings 24 to permit the enlargement of the slit oropening 22 by squeezing the tube to perform a pumping action.

In order to prevent leakage between the vial 20l and the tube 16 a crimpcap 25 is provided having an opening 26 through which the tube 16projects and with a reduced flange 27 engaging the neck of the vial 20.A spring and valve housing 28 is provided having an annular flange '29disposed between the resilient gasket 19 and the mouth of the bottle orvial, the housing 18 having an` opening 30 through which the solution ofmedicament and iluid can ow in its discharge.

A spring '31 is disposed within the housing 28 and tits around thereduced end of the valve 17 to maintain the portion 18 of the valveseated against the gasket 19. Such valve being adapted to be unseated bybeing engaged by the tube 16 to provide a gap or space between theportions 18 and 19 or in other words, by the forcing of the tube 16toward the vial 20.

In order to open the valve so that the contents of the vial can bedischarged nger pieces 32 are provided being carried by a yoke 33Amounted on the tube 16 by means of adhesive 34 or formed integrallytherewith.

In the use of the disposable hypodermic syringe of the present inventioncontaining the medicament under pressure the protective cap 13 forthe'needle is removed and the needle is inserted into the tissuewhereupon the transparent tube 14 is compressed by application ofpressure through the openings 24 so that it can be determined if theneedle has been improperly inserted in a blood vessel. If there is nosign of the improper insertion, the needle and forengers are applied tothe finger grips 32 while the thumb is applied to the remote end of thevial or container 20 and upon the contraction of the ngers and thumb thevial will be moved towards the needle and cause the tube 16 to unseatthe valve 17 and the discharge of the solution 35 of medicamentandliquid by an inert gas 36 in the remote portion of the vial, thedischarge being subject to interruption by the relaxation of the lingersand thumbl to permit the spring 31 to reseat or close the valve.

In Fig. 4 is disclosed a modified type of valve structure including avial 37 'having an internal rib or annulus 38 seated in a groove 39 in aclosure 40 in one end of the cylinder or vial 37. The closure 40 has aninternally threaded valve chamber 41 with openings 42 in communicationtherewith and with a valve member 43 adapted to engage a valve seat 44on the end of an externally threaded boss 45 of a connection 46 to thetube 14 with a longitudinal bore or discharge opening 47. The member 45has an operating ange 48 so that in the use of the device by rotatingthe iiange 48 the flow through the openings 42 and 47 will becontrolled.

Instead of charging the bottle, vial or container 35 with the gas 36 asillustrated in the preceding iigures, pressure may be produced innumerous other ways, two of which are illustrated in Figs. and 6. v

In Fig. 5 a vial or container 50 is provided with an open end having anexternal flange 51. Over this open end is clamped a marginal edge of animperviousmembrane `52 by means of a crimp cap 53 havingv one or moreopenings 54 for the insertion of an air injection needle for piercing aself-sealing type of gasket 55 prior to the introduction of the solutionto be administered. Air pressureV may be introduced through such crimpcap against the iiexible membrane to apply pressure to a solution 56 ofmedicament and fluid Ifor discharge when a valve which may be of thetype shown in either Figs. 2 or 4 is open. If desired the pressure maybe provided by the use of a spring 57.

Additional pressure means may be employed of any desired character, oneof which is illustrated in Fig. 6 in which a cylindrical air cartridge5S is compressed into the end of the vial or container 59 prior to theintroduction thereinto of the solution to be administered.

Otherwise, the structure of this ligure as well as that of Fig. 5 is thesame as Fig. 2.

In the use of the hypodermic syringe disclosed in Fig. 2 the vial orbarrel is filled with medicament and fluid and also gas under pressure.When ready to be used, the needle cover v13`is removed, the needle isinserted into the tissue, aspiration is accomplished, that is, the tube14 is compressed through the openings 24 to deter- -mine that the needlehas'not been improperly applied,

and with no evidence of having pierced a blood vesselv the foreiugersare engaged on the iinger grips and the thumb on the remote or closedend of the vial whereupon the contraction of the thumb and Iforefingerswill open the valve and the gas pressure within the barrel or vial willdischarge the contents of the vial unless the pressure is released topermit the valve to close whereupon the discharge will be terminated.

The amount and speed of injection are controlled by the amount ofpressure employed, care having been taken before tthe release valve isoperated to determine that the liquid is ahead of the gasto inject theliquid instead of the gas. In the use of the pressure means of Figs. 5and 6 there is no direct contact between the gas and the solution andthis type of structure may be preferred.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and, therefore, the invention is not limited by that which isillustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but onlyas indicated in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A disposable hypodermic syringe comprising a container havingmedicament and a fluid under pressure, a needle, and a.Y connectionbetween said needle and said container including a valve and adeformable portion for aspiration to indicate improper insertion of theneedle, whereby when said needle is inserted said valve may be operatedto release the medicament and fluid under pressure and cause the same tobe injected.

2. A `disposable hypodermic syringe comprising a container formedicament and uid and having an open end and an attaching flangethereabout, a hollow needle, and a connection between said container andsaid hollow needle including a tube, valve means 'for controlling thedischarge through said tube and said needle, and a finger grip on saidtube so that such finger ygrip may be engaged. while the thumb ispressed against the end of said container to operate said valve, saidtube having a cornpressible portion for aspiration to indicate improperapplication of said needle.

